Ahead of the imminent launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, the Fair Work Ombudsman of Australia posted a nifty chart that specifies the criteria for taking unpaid leave while poking light fun at Rockstar Games’ upcoming title. As the most anticipated game of 2026, Grand Theft Auto 6 launches worldwide on Thursday, November 19.
GTA 6 will take place in the tropical state of Leonida, with the sprawling streets of Vice City and the surrounding area available for players to explore. Although the game’s main story will take players through some standout locations in Leonida, Rockstar stated that the story will not cover every inch of land. Ergo, players will have to go out of their way to experience all that Vice City and Leonida have to offer. Given that GTA 6‘s open-world map is said to be twice as large as GTA 5‘s Los Santos area, players will have to set aside sufficient time to fully uncover everything.
Although GTA 6 will avoid making too many political references, one real-world government office shared tips for workers who may want to take time off to play the game. The Fair Work Ombudsman of Australia posted some graphics on Instagram that showed what circumstances qualified as unpaid leave under the National Employment Standards. The circumstances covered by the Fair Work Ombudsman would apply should workers not have any days of annual paid leave left. In short, while caring for a sick or injured family member would qualify, taking time off to explicitly play GTA 6 would instead require workers to talk it over with their employers in advance. The Ombudsman said that there is no actual minimum entitlement to unpaid leave, though the office cautioned workers to get their requests in sooner rather than later.
The Fair Work Ombudsman of Australia is not the only government entity to be aware of the launch of GTA 6. In early July, a US Army recruitment flyer that was originally posted by the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion (9th BEB) of Fort Stewart, Georgia, went viral on social media. The notice stated that eligible personnel could qualify for up to four days of leave to play GTA 6 at launch in exchange for reenlistment in the military. The US Army has since confirmed that the reenlistment offer to the 9th BEB is legitimate, though it is exclusive to eligible soldiers on post at Fort Stewart.
Businesses around the world have already been impacted by GTA 6 ahead of its launch, with some stating that customers should expect slow service during the game’s launch window as employees take time off to play. Although it remains unclear how much of an impact Rockstar’s game will have on the global economy, GTA 6 is anticipated to sell millions of copies on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Weeks before the game’s arrival, GTA 6 received an official rating of M for Mature by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) for content such as intense violence, nudity, and strong language. Given that GTA 6 has already become the most talked-about game of 2026, time will tell if it will translate to financial success for Rockstar Games and the entire gaming industry.
- Released
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November 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Rating Pending – Likely Mature 17+
